Japan hopeful of resolving Rohingya crisis peacefully

Hiroyasu Izumi. — UNB photo

Japanese ambassador in Dhaka Hiroyasu Izumi on Sunday hoped that the Rohingya issue will be resolved as soon as possible in a peaceful manner.

Ambassador Izumi was addressing at the inaugural session of a two-day international conference on ‘Bangladesh in International Peace-building: Experience from Japan’ in the city.

The Japanese ambassador said his country supports Bangladesh for the safe repatriation of Rohingyas from Bangladesh to Myanmar.

Chairman, parliamentary standing committee on ministry of foreign affairs, Dipu Moni, MP, spoke at the event as the chief guest.

Bangladesh Institute of International and Strategic Studies (BIISS) in collaboration with the Japan Foundation are hosting the two-day conference at BIISS auditorium.

Dipu Moni mentioned that foreign minister AH Mahmood Ali and Foreign Secretary M Shahidul Haque are now in Myanmar (scheduled to return Sunday night) to discuss repatriation process.

‘I hope this conference will also shed some lights on that process,’ said the former foreign minister of Bangladesh.

BIISS director general Major Geneneral AKM Abdur Rahman also spoke at the inaugural session with BIISS chairman Munshi Faiz Ahmad in the chair.

During recent visit of Japanese foreign minister Taro Kono here, Bangladesh and Japan shared five specific proposals to find early solution to Rohingya crisis ensuring safe, voluntary and sustainable return of Rohingyas to Myanmar.

Japan also agreed to provide necessary support for the repatriation and resettlement of the Rohingyas.

Minister Kono, before coming here, shared those five proposals with Myanmar side, and they ‘gladly accepted’ those proposals for quick and sustainable return of Rohingyas.

The five proposals are: Urging Myanmar to fully cooperate with independent enquiry committee, to fully cooperate with the UN agencies based on recently signed MoU, close camps for internally displaced persons in Myanmar, to expedite the process of building modern villages and conduct regular briefings in Rohingya camps by Myanmar side about steps taken on safe return of Rohingyas.

Source: New Age.